Official media reported yesterday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the allocation of all resources to bolster the country’s nuclear program in order to enhance its nuclear deterrent and safeguard national sovereignty and security.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim convened with high-ranking officials and scientists from North Korea’s nuclear research institutes, asserting that the nation’s top priority is to continue developing its nuclear response capabilities.
The agency further stated that Kim Jong Un emphasized the need to continuously sharpen and upgrade the nuclear deterrent to reliably ensure the nation’s sovereignty, security, and developmental rights.
The North Korean leader reaffirmed that enhancing the country’s nuclear capabilities remains an unchanging duty, stating that a strong deterrent, which he described as the foundation for maintaining peace and security through strength, is a steadfast position of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
In a related development, a South Korean Foreign Ministry official noted that a meeting between North Korea and the United States cannot be ruled out during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum hosted by South Korea this year.
A high-ranking South Korean Foreign Ministry official in New York indicated that such discussions could take place on the sidelines of the APEC meeting scheduled for late October.
When asked about the potential meeting, the official, who requested anonymity, stated that the possibility cannot be dismissed. It is anticipated that former President Donald Trump will attend the forum taking place in Gyeongju, South Korea. However, the official did not reveal details regarding the location or format of any potential U.S.-North Korea discussions.
Additionally, South Korea’s chief diplomat mentioned that President Yoon Suk Yeol has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to act as a peacemaker and leverage his leadership to encourage North Korea to engage in dialogue aimed at reducing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Foreign Minister Park Jin confirmed in an interview with the Associated Press that Trump welcomed President Yoon’s request and expressed his willingness to reach out to North Korea once again.